US20140001220A1 - Ergonomic segmented pack - Google Patents
Ergonomic segmented pack Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140001220A1 US20140001220A1 US13/854,382 US201313854382A US2014001220A1 US 20140001220 A1 US20140001220 A1 US 20140001220A1 US 201313854382 A US201313854382 A US 201313854382A US 2014001220 A1 US2014001220 A1 US 2014001220A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- pack
- region
- user
- hip
- load bearing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/04—Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/04—Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
- A45F3/08—Carrying-frames; Frames combined with sacks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/04—Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
- A45F2003/045—Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders and one additional strap around the waist
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/14—Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
- A45F2003/146—Pack-carrying harnesses
Definitions
- the present invention relates to load carrying mechanisms and more particularly, relates to an anatomically segmented pack separated into upper back, lower back, and hip regions to account for the differing degrees of articulation and the support required by each section.
- Load carrying packs are generally used in such activities as running, hiking, cycling, climbing, skiing, and snowboarding which all involve moving and twisting of the body in a variety of ways.
- the current pack designs do not accommodate the varying degrees of bending and movement at distinct areas on the user's back region.
- the majority of articulation will typically occur in the lower back region of the spine whereas bending in the upper back region is generally more limited.
- the pack loads are more efficiently carried as close to the body as possible and at the center of mass in order for loads to be transferred from the shoulders and back, to portions of the hips.
- the present invention is an anatomically segmented backpack that includes an upper back portion, a lower back portion, and a hip belt portion.
- the upper back portion has a Y-shaped shoulder strap that has a front and back end and is configured for extending over the shoulders of a user.
- the shoulder strap is further joined near the back end to a pack load carrying portion and a harness on the lower back.
- the harness is configured to extend in two opposite directions under each shoulder blade of the user. This harness is joined to the front end of the Y-shaped shoulder strap near the frontal area of the user when the pack is disposed on the user.
- the lower back portion has two ends where the first end is located at an opposite side from the second end.
- the lower back section is joined near the first end to the upper back portion.
- This lower back portion has a load-bearing element flexibly attached to the upper back portion for transferring a load from the upper back portion to the user's hips.
- the hip belt portion is joined to the second end of the lower back portion. There is a coupling device on the hip belt portion that joins the hip belt near and around the frontal region of the user.
- the hip belt is also configured for supporting a weight disposed in the pack-load carrying portion.
- FIG. 1 is a back view of the regions and functions of the segmented pack layout
- FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the segmented pack layout
- FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the load bearing element and slide mechanism of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the slide mechanism of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a detailed front view of an embodiment of the present invention with the clasp details
- FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the load bearing element of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 a is a detailed view of a first side of the load bearing hip belt
- FIG. 7 b is a detailed view of a second side of the load bearing hip belt
- FIG. 7 c is a detailed view of the adjustment region of the load bearing hip belt
- FIG. 8 a is a detailed view of a first component of the load bearing element
- FIG. 8 b is a detailed view of a second component of the load bearing element
- FIG. 9 a is a detailed view of the wire frame
- FIG. 9 b is a detailed view of the molded frame over the wire frame.
- FIG. 9 c is a detailed view of the fabric material over the wire frame.
- the present invention is an anatomically segmented pack 100 , which is comprised of an upper back region 102 , a lower back region 104 , and a hip region 106 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .
- the anatomically segmented pack 100 accounts for differing degrees of articulation, support and movement required by each section of the human spine and body. This arrangement and segmentation allows for each respective part of the pack to move unconstrained with the body.
- the invention's anatomically articulated layout also helps pull the pack's load closer to the upper body in order to more efficiently carry the load, while the load or weight of the pack is transferred from the shoulders and back of a user to the hips using a load bearing element 120 shown in FIG. 6 .
- a pack's load may be discretely compartmentalized by region in order to further enable the greatest amount of articulation at the lower back region 104 and more rigid support in the upper back region 102 .
- FIG. 1 A first embodiment of the anatomically segmented pack 100 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 , and includes a pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 ( 108 a , 108 b ), a thorax harness 110 , an articulated lower back support 112 , and a load bearing hip belt 114 .
- the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 cross over the top of each shoulder 109 and join into a one-piece “Y-shaped” construction proximal to the centerline of the shoulder blades as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 are preferably angled along the back to provide clearance for shoulder blade movement. In the center of the back, including the upper back region and lower back region is the pack load carrying portion 124 .
- This clearance may be facilitated by a lacing or tightening system to further draw in the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 to the center of the back.
- the material of the straps may feature a stretch or flexibility in order to facilitate drawing of the straps toward the body.
- the thorax harness 110 of the anatomically segmented pack 100 is located in the lower back region 104 where the thorax harness 110 extends from the bottom of the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 in two opposite directions under each respective shoulder blade 109 , and continues around to the front of the body as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the thorax harness 110 is coupled to the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 on both the back and the front side of the user.
- the two portions ( 110 a , 110 b ) of the thorax harness 110 connect to one another with a thorax harness clasp 116 .
- the thorax harness clasp 116 can be a snap-lock buckle or any other suitable attachment mechanism.
- the thorax harness 110 is effectively fixed to the ribcage of the user in order to hold the upper portion of the pack to the body.
- the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 are pulled tight, the load is transferred in a vertical direction in reference to the back, pulling the pack inwards and closer to the body.
- the pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 are pulled tight using a clip or loop that holds and adjusts the straps, and allows for tightening and loosening of the straps, as is well known in the art.
- the lower back region 104 of the pack 100 is flexibly attached to the upper back region 102 of the pack by means of a load bearing element 120 such as a cylindrical piston, FIG. 6 .
- the load bearing element 120 carries the bulk of the load.
- the ability of the load bearing element 120 to expand and contract, rotate and twist serves to transfer or buffer any upward and downward or twisting movement of the load created during relative rotations of the shoulder and back of the user, to the load bearing hip belt 114 . All of the articulation occurs in the load bearing element 120 while at the same time the load bearing element 120 allows for full body articulation by the user.
- the lower back region 104 therefore allows for a full range of spinal movement while distributing the weight to the hips using the anatomically shaped load bearing hip belt 114 that bears the load of the pack.
- Each end of the load bearing hip belt 114 is adjustably fastened at the user's front with a load bearing hip belt clasp 118 .
- the load bearing hip belt clasp 118 can be a snap-lock buckle or any other suitable attachment mechanism.
- the load bearing hip belt 114 may also be fully customizable to a user. As shown in FIGS. 7 a , 7 b and 7 c , the load bearing hip belt 114 may be a two part design, with an upper hip belt portion 172 and a lower hip belt portion 170 . The split design creates two open regions 174 . The upper hip belt portion 172 and lower hip belt portion 170 connect with one another in the adjustment regions 176 .
- the upper hip belt portion 172 ( FIG. 7 c ) is in contact on an inner surface 173 with the user and on the outer surface features a pocket 178 .
- a band of material 188 overlaps the pocket 178 , thereby creating a pass through section 180 .
- the lower hip belt portion 170 passes at least partially into the pass through section 180 and connects to a first end 189 of an adjustable strap 182 at a connection point 190 .
- the connection point 190 moves freely back and forth through the pass through section 180 in reaction to adjustments to the strap made by the user.
- the adjustable strap 182 then passes through a loop 184 and returns back into the pocket 178 , where the adjustable strap 182 is secured to an interior portion of the pocket 178 (not shown).
- the adjustable strap 182 can be used to customize the fit around the waist of a user.
- the adjustable strap passes through the loop 184 and freely moves in both directions to accommodate various positions of the adjustable strap 182 .
- the loop 184 functions as a pulley.
- the loop 184 is also attached to a belt strap 186 which contains the load bearing hip belt clasp 118 , which connects to the hip belt clasp 118 at the opposite end in order to secure the load bearing hip belt 114 around the waist of a user.
- the load bearing hip belt 114 is secured around the waist using the load bearing hip belt clasp 118 and then the user is able to customize the fit of the load bearing hip belt 114 to their waist using the adjustable strap 182 to move the upper and/or lower belt portions 170 / 172 into a comfortable position.
- the fully customizable load bearing hip belt 114 enables users of different sizes and shapes to share packs comfortably, for users to adjust the load bearing hip belt 114 when they add or remove additional layers of clothing, and provide a customized fit without the need for actual customization of the load bearing hip belt 114 .
- the load bearing hip belt clasp 118 can be tightened or loosened as needed, as is well known in the art. Additionally, the upper and lower belt portions 170 / 172 may feature a plurality of padding sections on one or more sides in order to provide additional cushioning. The plurality of padding sections may feature gaps in-between each padding section in order to facilitate a natural curve in the load bearing hip belt 114 .
- the integrated shoulder straps 108 also extend over the top of each shoulder but immediately connect to form a broad one-piece construction that extends over the entire upper and lower back region of the user including the shoulder blades.
- the upper back region 102 has a thorax harness 110 that again extends under each arm and wraps around the ribcage.
- the ends of the thorax harness straps are fastened to the respective lower ends of each integrated shoulder strap 108 where the harness straps can be pulled tight to draw the pack load closer to the body.
- the harness straps are pulled tight using a clip or loop that holds and adjusts the straps, and allows for tightening and loosening of the straps, as is well known in the art.
- the thorax harness 110 connects to the shoulder strap 108 at a lower part of the shoulder strap 108 as shown in FIG. 5 .
- a load bearing element 120 such as a cylindrical piston works similarly in this embodiment in order to carry the load to the hips.
- the load bearing element 120 as shown in FIG. 6 is located in the hip region 106 of the pack 100 .
- the load bearing element 120 features a rotation or rotary motion that provides increased flexibility and movement in the hip region 106 of the pack 100 .
- the load bearing element 120 can feature various designs, such as a ball and socket (shown generally in FIG. 6 as 120 a and 120 b ), a ball joint, a pivot joint, a rotary piston, a cylindrical piston, or another similar design.
- the load bearing element 120 allows for at least two directional motions and can also provide for motion in more than two directions.
- the load bearing element 120 operates around a central axis 122 .
- the design of the load bearing element 120 is such that when a wearer of the pack moves in a lateral flexion direction to the left or right the pack will have the ability to rotate and flex as if part of the body of the wearer of the pack.
- the load bearing element 120 is fixably attached on one side to the load bearing hip belt 114 at an attachment area 126 .
- the opposite side of the load bearing element 120 also makes contact with the articulated lower back support 112 .
- the articulated lower back support 112 is padded such that the articulated lower back support 112 provides a cushion between the back of the user and the load bearing element 120 .
- a preferred design of the load bearing element 120 features a first component 120 a located on the load bearing hip belt 114 , FIG. 8 a , and a second component 120 b located on the articulated lower back support 112 , FIG. 8 b .
- the first component 120 a includes one or more attachment devices 190 to secure the first component 120 a to the load bearing hip belt 114 .
- the second component 120 b also features one or more attachment devices 190 to secure the second component 120 b to the articulated lower back support 112 .
- the second component 120 b is secured through the articulated back support 112 and connected with the internal frame (not shown).
- the first component 120 a includes a rounded protrusion 192 which is configured to enter a rounded opening 194 of the second component 120 b .
- the first component 120 a also includes an oval shaped protrusion 196 which is configured to enter a lower portion of a kidney or oval shaped opening 198 on the second component 120 b.
- the first component 120 a is placed at and angle and the round protrusion 192 is aligned with the round opening 194 and the oval protrusion 196 is aligned with the lower portion of a kidney or oval shaped opening 198 .
- the oval and round protrusions 192 / 196 then simultaneously enter the openings 194 / 198 on the second component 120 b and the first component 120 a is rotated such that the round protrusion 192 moves to a first fitted position 200 and the oval protrusion 196 moves to a second fitted position 202 .
- the user secures the belt using the load bearing hip belt clasp 118 around their waist.
- the first and second components 120 a / 120 b are preferably made from a smooth composite material which allows for easy attachment of the two components to one another.
- the second component 120 b also may feature an indented area 204 that enables the two components to freely slide even when sand, dirt or other debris is present.
- the design as shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b is merely one embodiment of the present invention and it is contemplated and within the scope of the present invention that the two components could have many similar designs and shapes in order to accomplish a similar connection.
- the anatomically segmented pack 100 features a slide mechanism 130 in the upper back region 102 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 .
- the slide mechanism allows the pack to move with the user of the pack when the user bends forward.
- the slide mechanism 130 is located along a centerline 132 .
- the slide mechanism 130 is comprised of a fixed portion 134 that is secured to the upper back region 102 of the pack 100 .
- the fixed portion 134 is fixably secured to the pack 100 and is preferably secured through a material 135 of the fixed portion 134 and to an interior frame portion (not shown). The attachment of the fixed portion through the material and to an interior frame ensures the fixed portion cannot detach or rip away from the material of the pack 100 .
- the fixed portion 134 is preferably secured to the interior frame portion with a plurality of attachment devices, such as bolts, which are not easily removed.
- the fixed portion 134 includes an opening 136 that runs along the centerline 132 .
- the slide mechanism 130 also includes a movable portion 138 .
- the movable portion 138 is attached at an upper end 140 to the integrated shoulder strap 108 .
- the movable portion 138 is attached at a lower end 142 to the thorax harness 110 .
- the movable portion 138 further features an attachment mechanism 144 .
- the attachment mechanism 144 secures the movable portion 138 to the fixed portion 134 and allows the movable portion 138 to slide up and down along the opening 136 .
- the attachment mechanism 144 may be a multi-part washer that includes a first portion 146 and a second portion 148 , wherein the first portion 146 is attached to the movable portion 138 and located on a first side 150 of the fixed portion 134 and the second portion 148 is attached to the first portion 146 and located on a second side 152 of the fixed portion 134 .
- the first portion 146 and second portion 148 are held in place with a mounting piece 154 .
- the mounting piece 154 can be a bolt, a pin, or any similar device.
- Other attachment mechanisms 144 are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
- the attachment mechanism 144 When a user is in a fully upright position the attachment mechanism 144 will be located at the bottom of the opening 136 located on the fixed portion 134 . As a user bends in a forward direction, the attachment mechanism 144 will slide upward in the opening 136 to match the forward bend by the user.
- the slide mechanism 130 allows the weight of the pack 100 to be transferred seamlessly when the user leans forward and then returns to an upright position, allowing for greater control of the pack 100 during movement and less effort to be employed by the user.
- the lower end 142 of the movable portion 138 may further feature a flexible connection mechanism 160 .
- the flexible connection mechanism 160 is fixably attached to the lower end 142 of the movable portion 138 and also fixably attached to the hip region 106 .
- the attachment of the flexible connection mechanism 160 in the hip region 106 occurs on the articulated lower back support 112 .
- the flexible connection mechanism 160 features an elastic function, which allows the movable portion 138 to move up and down based upon the tension in the flexible connection mechanism 160 .
- each of the flexible connection mechanisms 160 a / 160 b may be a single connection element or a series of multiple connection elements.
- the flexible connection mechanism 160 preferably includes an elastomer, and may be made from rubber, latex, nylon, polyester, cotton, or another similar material.
- the slide mechanism 130 works in conjunction with the load bearing element 120 to provide seamless movement of the pack in concert with the motions that are employed by the wearer of the pack.
- the slide mechanism 130 and load bearing element 120 allow a user to bend forward and side to side naturally.
- the pack 100 stays relatively in place on the back of the user without major shifts in weight occurring when the user moves.
- the design reduces fatigue in the user and allows the user to carry a larger load for a longer period of time.
- FIG. 9 a details one embodiment of a wire frame 210 .
- the wire frame 210 may be an aluminum rod or another similar material.
- FIG. 9 b details the wire frame with a molded pack frame 212 which is placed over the wire frame 210 .
- the molded pack frame may be an ABS plastic material or another similar material.
- One or more upper openings 214 in the molded pack frame 212 are provided to allow attachment of the shoulder straps 108 directly to the wire frame 210 .
- One or more lower openings 216 may also be provided to allow direct connection of other parts of the backpack, such as the load bearing element 120 .
- FIG. 9 c details the outer pack material 218 shown over the molded pack frame 212 , with the wire frame 210 still exposed at the upper and lower openings 214 / 216 .
- the present invention provides a novel, anatomically segmented back-pack which provides for better load carrying capabilities based on its segmented and anatomical design.
Abstract
Description
- This application is a Continuation-In-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/920,702 titled “Outdoor Equipment” filed on Sep. 2, 2010 and claims priority from PCT Application PCT/US2008/057682 titled “Outdoor Equipment” filed on Mar. 20, 2008 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/895,771 titled “Outdoor Equipment” which was filed on Mar. 20, 2007, all of which are incorporated fully herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to load carrying mechanisms and more particularly, relates to an anatomically segmented pack separated into upper back, lower back, and hip regions to account for the differing degrees of articulation and the support required by each section.
- Load carrying packs are generally used in such activities as running, hiking, cycling, climbing, skiing, and snowboarding which all involve moving and twisting of the body in a variety of ways. However, the current pack designs do not accommodate the varying degrees of bending and movement at distinct areas on the user's back region. In particular, the majority of articulation will typically occur in the lower back region of the spine whereas bending in the upper back region is generally more limited. The pack loads are more efficiently carried as close to the body as possible and at the center of mass in order for loads to be transferred from the shoulders and back, to portions of the hips.
- While there may be some existing pack designs that provide a mechanism for distributing loads to the hip/waist region, the prior art is lacking in that there are no known packs that allow for different amounts of articulation in a pack along the spinal column.
- The present invention is an anatomically segmented backpack that includes an upper back portion, a lower back portion, and a hip belt portion. The upper back portion has a Y-shaped shoulder strap that has a front and back end and is configured for extending over the shoulders of a user. The shoulder strap is further joined near the back end to a pack load carrying portion and a harness on the lower back. The harness is configured to extend in two opposite directions under each shoulder blade of the user. This harness is joined to the front end of the Y-shaped shoulder strap near the frontal area of the user when the pack is disposed on the user.
- The lower back portion has two ends where the first end is located at an opposite side from the second end. The lower back section is joined near the first end to the upper back portion. This lower back portion has a load-bearing element flexibly attached to the upper back portion for transferring a load from the upper back portion to the user's hips.
- The hip belt portion is joined to the second end of the lower back portion. There is a coupling device on the hip belt portion that joins the hip belt near and around the frontal region of the user. The hip belt is also configured for supporting a weight disposed in the pack-load carrying portion.
- These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a back view of the regions and functions of the segmented pack layout; -
FIG. 2 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the segmented pack layout; -
FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one embodiment of the load bearing element and slide mechanism of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the slide mechanism of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a detailed front view of an embodiment of the present invention with the clasp details; -
FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the load bearing element of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 a is a detailed view of a first side of the load bearing hip belt; -
FIG. 7 b is a detailed view of a second side of the load bearing hip belt; -
FIG. 7 c is a detailed view of the adjustment region of the load bearing hip belt; -
FIG. 8 a is a detailed view of a first component of the load bearing element; -
FIG. 8 b is a detailed view of a second component of the load bearing element; -
FIG. 9 a is a detailed view of the wire frame; -
FIG. 9 b is a detailed view of the molded frame over the wire frame; and -
FIG. 9 c is a detailed view of the fabric material over the wire frame. - The present invention is an anatomically segmented
pack 100, which is comprised of anupper back region 102, alower back region 104, and ahip region 106 as shown inFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 . The anatomically segmentedpack 100 accounts for differing degrees of articulation, support and movement required by each section of the human spine and body. This arrangement and segmentation allows for each respective part of the pack to move unconstrained with the body. The invention's anatomically articulated layout also helps pull the pack's load closer to the upper body in order to more efficiently carry the load, while the load or weight of the pack is transferred from the shoulders and back of a user to the hips using a load bearingelement 120 shown inFIG. 6 . A pack's load may be discretely compartmentalized by region in order to further enable the greatest amount of articulation at thelower back region 104 and more rigid support in theupper back region 102. - A first embodiment of the anatomically segmented
pack 100 according to the present invention is shown inFIG. 1 , and includes a pair of integrated shoulder straps 108 (108 a, 108 b), athorax harness 110, an articulatedlower back support 112, and a load bearinghip belt 114. The pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 cross over the top of eachshoulder 109 and join into a one-piece “Y-shaped” construction proximal to the centerline of the shoulder blades as shown inFIG. 1 . The pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 are preferably angled along the back to provide clearance for shoulder blade movement. In the center of the back, including the upper back region and lower back region is the packload carrying portion 124. This clearance may be facilitated by a lacing or tightening system to further draw in the pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 to the center of the back. Alternatively, the material of the straps may feature a stretch or flexibility in order to facilitate drawing of the straps toward the body. - The
thorax harness 110 of the anatomically segmentedpack 100 is located in thelower back region 104 where thethorax harness 110 extends from the bottom of the pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 in two opposite directions under eachrespective shoulder blade 109, and continues around to the front of the body as shown inFIG. 5 . Thethorax harness 110 is coupled to the pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 on both the back and the front side of the user. The two portions (110 a, 110 b) of thethorax harness 110 connect to one another with athorax harness clasp 116. Thethorax harness clasp 116 can be a snap-lock buckle or any other suitable attachment mechanism. Thethorax harness 110 is effectively fixed to the ribcage of the user in order to hold the upper portion of the pack to the body. When the pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 are pulled tight, the load is transferred in a vertical direction in reference to the back, pulling the pack inwards and closer to the body. The pair of integratedshoulder straps 108 are pulled tight using a clip or loop that holds and adjusts the straps, and allows for tightening and loosening of the straps, as is well known in the art. - The
lower back region 104 of thepack 100 is flexibly attached to theupper back region 102 of the pack by means of a load bearingelement 120 such as a cylindrical piston,FIG. 6 . The load bearingelement 120 carries the bulk of the load. The ability of the load bearingelement 120 to expand and contract, rotate and twist serves to transfer or buffer any upward and downward or twisting movement of the load created during relative rotations of the shoulder and back of the user, to the load bearinghip belt 114. All of the articulation occurs in the load bearingelement 120 while at the same time the load bearingelement 120 allows for full body articulation by the user. Thelower back region 104 therefore allows for a full range of spinal movement while distributing the weight to the hips using the anatomically shaped load bearinghip belt 114 that bears the load of the pack. Each end of the load bearinghip belt 114 is adjustably fastened at the user's front with a load bearinghip belt clasp 118. The load bearinghip belt clasp 118 can be a snap-lock buckle or any other suitable attachment mechanism. - The load bearing
hip belt 114 may also be fully customizable to a user. As shown inFIGS. 7 a, 7 b and 7 c, the load bearinghip belt 114 may be a two part design, with an upperhip belt portion 172 and a lowerhip belt portion 170. The split design creates twoopen regions 174. The upperhip belt portion 172 and lowerhip belt portion 170 connect with one another in theadjustment regions 176. - The upper hip belt portion 172 (
FIG. 7 c) is in contact on aninner surface 173 with the user and on the outer surface features apocket 178. A band ofmaterial 188 overlaps thepocket 178, thereby creating a pass throughsection 180. The lowerhip belt portion 170 passes at least partially into the pass throughsection 180 and connects to afirst end 189 of anadjustable strap 182 at aconnection point 190. In use, theconnection point 190 moves freely back and forth through the pass throughsection 180 in reaction to adjustments to the strap made by the user. Theadjustable strap 182 then passes through aloop 184 and returns back into thepocket 178, where theadjustable strap 182 is secured to an interior portion of the pocket 178 (not shown). - The
adjustable strap 182 can be used to customize the fit around the waist of a user. The adjustable strap passes through theloop 184 and freely moves in both directions to accommodate various positions of theadjustable strap 182. In this way, theloop 184 functions as a pulley. Theloop 184 is also attached to abelt strap 186 which contains the load bearinghip belt clasp 118, which connects to thehip belt clasp 118 at the opposite end in order to secure the load bearinghip belt 114 around the waist of a user. In use, the load bearinghip belt 114 is secured around the waist using the load bearinghip belt clasp 118 and then the user is able to customize the fit of the load bearinghip belt 114 to their waist using theadjustable strap 182 to move the upper and/orlower belt portions 170/172 into a comfortable position. The fully customizable load bearinghip belt 114 enables users of different sizes and shapes to share packs comfortably, for users to adjust the load bearinghip belt 114 when they add or remove additional layers of clothing, and provide a customized fit without the need for actual customization of the load bearinghip belt 114. - The load bearing
hip belt clasp 118 can be tightened or loosened as needed, as is well known in the art. Additionally, the upper andlower belt portions 170/172 may feature a plurality of padding sections on one or more sides in order to provide additional cushioning. The plurality of padding sections may feature gaps in-between each padding section in order to facilitate a natural curve in the load bearinghip belt 114. - In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
FIG. 2 , theintegrated shoulder straps 108 also extend over the top of each shoulder but immediately connect to form a broad one-piece construction that extends over the entire upper and lower back region of the user including the shoulder blades. Theupper back region 102 has athorax harness 110 that again extends under each arm and wraps around the ribcage. The ends of the thorax harness straps are fastened to the respective lower ends of eachintegrated shoulder strap 108 where the harness straps can be pulled tight to draw the pack load closer to the body. The harness straps are pulled tight using a clip or loop that holds and adjusts the straps, and allows for tightening and loosening of the straps, as is well known in the art. Other adjustment mechanisms are contemplated and within the scope of the current invention. Thethorax harness 110 connects to theshoulder strap 108 at a lower part of theshoulder strap 108 as shown inFIG. 5 . Aload bearing element 120, such as a cylindrical piston works similarly in this embodiment in order to carry the load to the hips. - The
load bearing element 120 as shown inFIG. 6 is located in thehip region 106 of thepack 100. Theload bearing element 120 features a rotation or rotary motion that provides increased flexibility and movement in thehip region 106 of thepack 100. Theload bearing element 120 can feature various designs, such as a ball and socket (shown generally inFIG. 6 as 120 a and 120 b), a ball joint, a pivot joint, a rotary piston, a cylindrical piston, or another similar design. Theload bearing element 120 allows for at least two directional motions and can also provide for motion in more than two directions. Theload bearing element 120 operates around acentral axis 122. The design of theload bearing element 120 is such that when a wearer of the pack moves in a lateral flexion direction to the left or right the pack will have the ability to rotate and flex as if part of the body of the wearer of the pack. - The
load bearing element 120 is fixably attached on one side to the load bearinghip belt 114 at anattachment area 126. The opposite side of theload bearing element 120 also makes contact with the articulatedlower back support 112. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the articulatedlower back support 112 is padded such that the articulatedlower back support 112 provides a cushion between the back of the user and theload bearing element 120. - A preferred design of the
load bearing element 120 features afirst component 120 a located on the load bearinghip belt 114,FIG. 8 a, and asecond component 120 b located on the articulatedlower back support 112,FIG. 8 b. In this embodiment, thefirst component 120 a includes one ormore attachment devices 190 to secure thefirst component 120 a to the load bearinghip belt 114. Similarly, thesecond component 120 b also features one ormore attachment devices 190 to secure thesecond component 120 b to the articulatedlower back support 112. In a preferred embodiment, thesecond component 120 b is secured through the articulated backsupport 112 and connected with the internal frame (not shown). In the design shown, thefirst component 120 a includes arounded protrusion 192 which is configured to enter arounded opening 194 of thesecond component 120 b. Thefirst component 120 a also includes an oval shapedprotrusion 196 which is configured to enter a lower portion of a kidney or oval shaped opening 198 on thesecond component 120 b. - In use, the
first component 120 a is placed at and angle and theround protrusion 192 is aligned with theround opening 194 and theoval protrusion 196 is aligned with the lower portion of a kidney or oval shapedopening 198. The oval andround protrusions 192/196 then simultaneously enter theopenings 194/198 on thesecond component 120 b and thefirst component 120 a is rotated such that theround protrusion 192 moves to a firstfitted position 200 and theoval protrusion 196 moves to a secondfitted position 202. Once in the fittedpositions 200/202, the user secures the belt using the load bearinghip belt clasp 118 around their waist. When the load bearinghip belt 114 is secured around a user's waist, the two components cannot be separated. The first andsecond components 120 a/120 b are preferably made from a smooth composite material which allows for easy attachment of the two components to one another. Thesecond component 120 b also may feature anindented area 204 that enables the two components to freely slide even when sand, dirt or other debris is present. The design as shown inFIGS. 8 a and 8 b is merely one embodiment of the present invention and it is contemplated and within the scope of the present invention that the two components could have many similar designs and shapes in order to accomplish a similar connection. - In another embodiment of the present invention the anatomically
segmented pack 100, features aslide mechanism 130 in theupper back region 102 as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 . The slide mechanism allows the pack to move with the user of the pack when the user bends forward. Theslide mechanism 130 is located along acenterline 132. Theslide mechanism 130 is comprised of a fixedportion 134 that is secured to theupper back region 102 of thepack 100. The fixedportion 134 is fixably secured to thepack 100 and is preferably secured through amaterial 135 of the fixedportion 134 and to an interior frame portion (not shown). The attachment of the fixed portion through the material and to an interior frame ensures the fixed portion cannot detach or rip away from the material of thepack 100. The fixedportion 134 is preferably secured to the interior frame portion with a plurality of attachment devices, such as bolts, which are not easily removed. The fixedportion 134 includes anopening 136 that runs along thecenterline 132. Theslide mechanism 130 also includes amovable portion 138. Themovable portion 138 is attached at anupper end 140 to theintegrated shoulder strap 108. Themovable portion 138 is attached at alower end 142 to thethorax harness 110. - The
movable portion 138 further features anattachment mechanism 144. Theattachment mechanism 144 secures themovable portion 138 to the fixedportion 134 and allows themovable portion 138 to slide up and down along theopening 136. Theattachment mechanism 144 may be a multi-part washer that includes afirst portion 146 and asecond portion 148, wherein thefirst portion 146 is attached to themovable portion 138 and located on afirst side 150 of the fixedportion 134 and thesecond portion 148 is attached to thefirst portion 146 and located on asecond side 152 of the fixedportion 134. Thefirst portion 146 andsecond portion 148 are held in place with a mountingpiece 154. The mountingpiece 154 can be a bolt, a pin, or any similar device.Other attachment mechanisms 144 are considered to be within the scope of the invention. - When a user is in a fully upright position the
attachment mechanism 144 will be located at the bottom of theopening 136 located on the fixedportion 134. As a user bends in a forward direction, theattachment mechanism 144 will slide upward in theopening 136 to match the forward bend by the user. Theslide mechanism 130 allows the weight of thepack 100 to be transferred seamlessly when the user leans forward and then returns to an upright position, allowing for greater control of thepack 100 during movement and less effort to be employed by the user. - The
lower end 142 of themovable portion 138 may further feature a flexible connection mechanism 160. The flexible connection mechanism 160 is fixably attached to thelower end 142 of themovable portion 138 and also fixably attached to thehip region 106. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the attachment of the flexible connection mechanism 160 in thehip region 106 occurs on the articulatedlower back support 112. The flexible connection mechanism 160 features an elastic function, which allows themovable portion 138 to move up and down based upon the tension in the flexible connection mechanism 160. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, there are at least twoflexible connection mechanisms 160 a/160 b, wherein bothflexible connection mechanisms 160 a/160 b connect to alower end 142 of themovable portion 138 and wherein a firstflexible connection mechanism 160 a attaches to a firstupper portion 162 of the articulatedlower back support 112 and a secondflexible connection mechanism 160 b attaches to a secondupper portion 164 of the articulatedlower back support 112. Each of theflexible connection mechanisms 160 a/160 b may be a single connection element or a series of multiple connection elements. The flexible connection mechanism 160 preferably includes an elastomer, and may be made from rubber, latex, nylon, polyester, cotton, or another similar material. - The
slide mechanism 130 works in conjunction with theload bearing element 120 to provide seamless movement of the pack in concert with the motions that are employed by the wearer of the pack. Theslide mechanism 130 and load bearingelement 120 allow a user to bend forward and side to side naturally. Thepack 100 stays relatively in place on the back of the user without major shifts in weight occurring when the user moves. The design reduces fatigue in the user and allows the user to carry a larger load for a longer period of time. - In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many of the previously described components are attached not to the fabric or pack material, but rather make direct connection with the internal frame,
FIGS. 9 a, 9 b and 9 c. In this way, the various components are rigidly secured and are not prone to ripping or pealing away from the fabric or pack material.FIG. 9 a details one embodiment of awire frame 210. Thewire frame 210 may be an aluminum rod or another similar material.FIG. 9 b details the wire frame with a moldedpack frame 212 which is placed over thewire frame 210. The molded pack frame may be an ABS plastic material or another similar material. One or moreupper openings 214 in the moldedpack frame 212 are provided to allow attachment of theshoulder straps 108 directly to thewire frame 210. One or morelower openings 216 may also be provided to allow direct connection of other parts of the backpack, such as theload bearing element 120.FIG. 9 c details theouter pack material 218 shown over the moldedpack frame 212, with thewire frame 210 still exposed at the upper andlower openings 214/216. - Accordingly, the present invention provides a novel, anatomically segmented back-pack which provides for better load carrying capabilities based on its segmented and anatomical design.
- Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, which is not to be limited except by the following claims.
Claims (21)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/854,382 US9113697B2 (en) | 2007-03-20 | 2013-04-01 | Ergonomic segmented pack |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
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US89577107P | 2007-03-20 | 2007-03-20 | |
PCT/US2008/057682 WO2008116080A2 (en) | 2007-03-20 | 2008-03-20 | Outdoor equipment |
US92070211A | 2011-05-19 | 2011-05-19 | |
US13/854,382 US9113697B2 (en) | 2007-03-20 | 2013-04-01 | Ergonomic segmented pack |
Related Parent Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/US2008/057682 Continuation-In-Part WO2008116080A2 (en) | 2007-03-20 | 2008-03-20 | Outdoor equipment |
US12/920,702 Continuation-In-Part US20110305505A1 (en) | 2007-03-20 | 2008-03-20 | Outdoor equipment |
US92070211A Continuation-In-Part | 2007-03-20 | 2011-05-19 |
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US20140001220A1 true US20140001220A1 (en) | 2014-01-02 |
US9113697B2 US9113697B2 (en) | 2015-08-25 |
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US13/854,382 Active 2028-07-10 US9113697B2 (en) | 2007-03-20 | 2013-04-01 | Ergonomic segmented pack |
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US (1) | US9113697B2 (en) |
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US20140014700A1 (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2014-01-16 | Yoram Gill | Load carrier device |
US20150053734A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2015-02-26 | Yvonne C. Smith | Pack assembly and integrated dog leash |
US20150342329A1 (en) * | 2012-12-17 | 2015-12-03 | Rig Equipment Limited | Vest |
US20170049218A1 (en) * | 2014-05-01 | 2017-02-23 | Robert MONCREIFF | A harness for carrying a load |
CN107951154A (en) * | 2018-01-18 | 2018-04-24 | 涂涛 | A kind of shoulder strap |
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US10034533B1 (en) * | 2015-09-04 | 2018-07-31 | Jose Luis Santana-Zaizar | Backpack system |
US11109663B2 (en) | 2017-03-21 | 2021-09-07 | Rokman, Llc | Backpack system with interchangeable elements |
US10806238B2 (en) * | 2018-05-15 | 2020-10-20 | Samsonite Ip Holdings S.A.R.L. | Backpack with dynamic flexible hip belt |
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US9113697B2 (en) | 2015-08-25 |
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